Pencil



Sept. 22, 1936. SHARROW 2,055,316

. V PENCIL Filed Sept. 26, I935 J3 f" Ja INVENTOR. 3/ Paper 1?. MPP

ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. .22, 1,936

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PENCIL Percy A. Sharrow, Windsor, Ontario, Canada Application September 26, 1935, Serial No. 42,196

Claims.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a pencil of the fioating type in which the writing point of the pencil may move inwardly and'outwardly in response to the pressure exerted upon itso as to provide a yielding point which will relieve the writer offatigue and cramps to a large extent.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel arrangementfor adjusting the yieldable pressure which resists the inward movement of the writing point.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a pair of spring arms which operate as brakes in resisting the inward movement of the pencil and which may be adjusted to various degrees of pressure. 1

Another object of the invention is the provision .of a pencil of this class in which yieldable means may be provided for resisting the outward movement of the writing point after the inward pressure has been released. Y

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangementof parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by a reference to the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification, andin which,

Fig. 1 is a side; elevational view of the invention. I 1 I Fig. 2 is a'longitudinal, sectional view of the invention. K V I Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view taken on line4--4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 2.

As shown in the drawing, the invention comprises a barrel 9 which is closed at one end by the head ID in which is formed the peripheral groove I I. Positioned in the barrel 9 is a disc I 2, projecting outwardlyfrom which are the hollow legs' I3 which are diametrically positioned and project outwardly fromthe periphery of the disc I2. A

' stud I4 extendsoutwardly from one of the legs I3 and rides in a slot I5 formed in the barrel 9. Se-

cured'at their ends by apress fit in the head ID are a pair of spring arms I 6, each of which is provided with a head I! adapted to engage the and held therein by frictional engagement with the bore 20. r e r The tube I9 projects through a central opening 22 formed in the disc I2 and through a necke:

23 which projects from the disc 24. This disc is provided at opposite sides with peripherallyprojecting lugs 25, each of which rides in a groove 26 formed in a sleeve 21, one end of which is crimped inwardly at 28 to engage in the groove:

II. The neck 23 is threaded through a central opening formed. in the head I0 and is adapted to engage the disc I2. Consequently, by rotating the sleeve 21, the member 24 is rotated and the' neck 23 threaded inwardly or outwardly of the cone I8. Threaded into the tube I9 is the fol-.

lower 30 carrying at its inner or lower end the plunger rod 3| against which engages the end of the lead 2|. The upper end of the follower 3|} is provided with a cross-head 32, the ends of which ride in slots 33 formed in the tube 34 which;

is positioned centrally of the cylindrical extension 35. This cylindrical extension 35 is cutaway as at 36 and the cut away portion is thrustv into the sleeve 21 as a snug fit. The extension is pro- I vided with the lead-receiving chambers 31 in: which extra pieces of lead may be positioned.

a An eraser 38 is secured to the upper end of the extension 35 and a cap 39 serves as a closure fo this extension and for the eraser 38. 1

Threaded into the lower end of the barrel 9 is the tapered head 40, the inner end of which is formed to provide the cone 4|. Secured at one of their ends as a press fit in the end of the cone I8 and projecting axially therefrom, are the spring arms 42 and 43, each of which is provided with a head 44. A spring 45 embraces the tube I9 and one end of this spring engages one end of the cone I8 and the other end of the spring'engages. the

inner end of the cone 4 I.

sleeve 21 and an indicating mark 41 is displayed at a point on the upper end of the barrel 9. Gradnations 48 along the side of slot I5 are adapted to cooperate with the angularly-turned end 49 of the stud I4.

In use when the device is assembled as illustrated in'Fig. 2 and a lead 2| positioned in the bore 20, a rotating of the extension 35 relatively to the member 21 will effect a threading. of the "ipllower as inwardly of the tube I950 that the.

Graduations 46 are formed on the end of the part, in which the piece of lead 2| is positioned m plunger 3| will force the lead to extend outwardly of the tube 19 the proper distance. When the pencil is used for writing, the pressure on the lead will cause the tube to move inwardly of the 6 head 40 carrying with it the cone l8 and thus the inward movement will be against the compression of the spring 29 and also against the frictional contact of the heads I1 with the periphery of the cone IB. In order to adjust this re- 10 sistance to inward movement-the user would rotate the member "21 relatively to'the barrel 9. This would cause a threading of the neck 23 through the head l0 and move the disc I2 down"- wardly toward the point of the pencil, thus coman -in=' pressing the spring [9. Consequently,

creased resistance to inward movement *wouldbe encountered through the increased compression of the spring. Additional resistance would-also be encountered because the spring arms would 0 then be shortened as to their distance of flexing inasmuch-as the legs '-I 3 would move downwardly -'-to"-"the headbearing endsof the spring arms 11.

This adjustment of the spring 29 andof the'spring "arms l fi -would be indicated-by the graduations 46 cooperating with the marker 41 andalso would be --indicatedby the graduatio'ns 48 cooperating T4, n thisfw'ay a very delicate and proper adj1ntniem-or the resistance'may be accomplished. -Whe'n tlie inward pressure on the pencil point --is released its outward movement'will'be checked 'bythe spring fl and also by engagement'ofthe heads of the spring arms 42 and 43 with the 'c'ohe'e'l. This will 'relieve thed'eVi'ce of any fsi'iddenjars or s'hocksshould the pencil be pressed *npcna piece of paper, a desk "or the like and --suddenIyrernoved-' therefrom. It is consequently 'seen that the p'encil aiTo'rds a means for adjusti ng th lead 11501111? 136 Still; the individual requirement's-a's some 'people' desire 'a -stifie'r' pencil than dth'ers anusome press heavieron the'paper than others. I a

' While I have illustrated and described the preferreu form of construction, I do not wish-to limit 45 myself "to the precise details of structure shown, but desire t'o ai/aib yself "ofsuch variations and friodifi'c'at ion'sa'smay come within the'scope of the appended claims. 1

I-Iaving' thus described my invention, what I *tmclaim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Pat- 1.=A p'encil'o'f the class described, comprising: a main body; adead-receiving tube extending through said body'and moveable longitudinally thereof: a' pair' of stationaryspring armson-said 'b6djrfarid means fixedly mounted on'said tube engageable'with the ends "ofss'aiduspring arms for resisting inward movement ofsaid tube relatiyei 'to '"s'aidbo'dy.

peri'cil'of' the'class described, comprising: amam' body; a -Jead-receiVing': tube extending through said body andmoveable' longitudinally thereo'fy a pairiof stationarysprin'g arms-on said body; means fixedly mounted-on said-tube-eneable with 'the' ends'of'said. spring-arms for 'i stl ii'g inward 'movement of said:tube" relatively id b'ody and means for adjusting-the ends said" arms 'on' said'engagement means by adjustirig" thelengthof flexingrof said arms.

3. A pencil of the class described, comprising:

' -thfo'u'gh -said body and moveable longitudinally there of; a pain of 'stationarysspring arms on said i E body mean'sfixedly -'mounted on, said tube .en-

T75 'gageable'iwith -=the ends "of: said spring arms for resisting inward movement of said tube relatively to said body; means for adjusting the ends of said arms on said engagement means by adjusting the length of flexing of said arms; and additional resilient means for resisting inward movement of said tube relatively to said body.

4. A pencil of the class described, comprising: a body; a lead-receiving tube in said body and moveable longitudinally thereof; a pair of stationaryspring arms on said body in'spaced relation; an engagement member fixedly mounted on said tube and having an inclined surface adapted,

eupon inward movement of said tube relatively to said body, for engaging the ends of said arms and flexing the same outwardly, the resistance of saidiarms-to outward flexing effecting a resistance to inward movement of said tube.

'-5; -"A' 'pencil -of the class described, comprising: a body; a lead-receiving tube in said body and moveable longitudinally thereof; a pair of stationaryspring armson said body in spaced rela- -tio'n; ='an' engagement member-fixedly mounted on said tube arid-having an i-iiclin'ed surface adapted, upon 'inw'a'rd movenientof said tube relatively to 's'aid b'ody, 'fo'r engaging the ends of said arms "-and fl'e'xing the' same outwardly, the resistance of said arms to outward 'flexing effecting a resistance 'toinward movement of said tube; and -means for 'adjusting'thetension of said arms by regulating the len'gth'of fl'exing of the same.

6. A pencil of the class described, comprising: a inain'body; a lead-receiving tube'extending in said body and moveable-longitudinally thereof; a pair'of "spring arms, eachfixedto said body at one of theiriends; an engagement member having inclined surfaces adapted, upon inward movement of said'tube, for engaging the free'ends of said arms and flexing the'sa'me, the resistance of said arms to flexingmovement efiecting a resistance ---to. inward movement of said tube.

7. A pencil of the classdescribed, comprising: a maini-bo'dy; a lead-receiving tube extending in I said body and moveable longitudinally thereof; a-rp'air of springv arms each fixed to said body at one of their ends; an engagementmember having- 'inclined surfaces adapted, upon inward .movement of said tube, 'for engaging the free endsrof s'aid arms and flexing the same, the resistance 'iofsaid arms'to flexing'moviement effecting a resistance to inward movement of said "tubje; =an'd asp'ring engaging said engagement member for further resisting inward movement :OfiSGidFt'l-IbG.

8. A pencil of the class described, comprising:

a m'ain bodypalead-receiving tube extending in said body' andvmoveablelongitudinally thereof a pair of spring arms, each fixed to said body mat one 1 of their ends; an-engagement member having inclined surfaces adapted, upon inward movement of saidtube, for engaging the freeends of said arms and flexing the same, the resistance of said arms to flexing movement effecting a resistance to inward movement of said tube: a spring engaging said engagement member for'further resisting inward-movement of saidtube; and means for simultaneously adjusting the tension of said spring and 'of said spring farms. 1 2

j '9. A; pencil of the class described, comprising: a-main body; a lead-receiving'tube extending in said body and moveable longitudinally thereof;

, a pair of spring arms; each fixed to said body .at -one:of theirends; an engagement member having-inclined surfacesadapted, upon inward movement of said tube, for engaging the free' ends of said arms and flexing the same, the resistance of said arms to flexing movement effecting a resistance to inward movement of said tube; a spring engaging said engagement member for further resisting inward movement of said tube; means for simultaneously adjusting the tension of said spring and of said spring arms; and means for checking the outward movement of said tube after release of the pressure forcing the same inwardly.

10. A pencil of the class described, comprising: an elongated body; a lead-receiving tube extending through said body and slidable longitudinally thereof; a stationary head on said body having inclined surfaces; an engagement member mounted fixedly on said tube; a pair of spring arms fixed at one end to one end of said engagement member and extending axially therefrom, said head having an inclined surface adapted for engaging the free end of said spring arms and checking outward movement of said tube relatively to said body.

11. A pencil of the class described, comprising: an elongated body; a lead-receiving tube extending through said body and slidable longitudinally thereof; a stationary head on said body having inclined surfaces; an engagement member mounted fixedly on said tube; a pair of spring arms fixed at one end to one end of said engagement member and extending axially therefrom, said head having an inclined surface adapted for engaging the free end of said spring arms and checking outward movement of said tube relatively to said body; and a spring engaging said head and engaging said engagement member for assisting in checking outward movement of said tube relatively to said body.

12. A pencil of the class described, comprising: a main body; a lead-receiving tube extending in said body and movable longitudinally thereof; means in said body moveable simultaneously with said tube; and yieldable friction means engaging said last named means for resisting inward movement of said tube.

13. A pencil of the class described, comprisa ing: a main body; a lead-receiving tube extending in said body and. moveable longitudinally thereof; means in said body moveable simultaneously with said tube; yieldable friction means engaging said last named means for resisting inward movement of said tube; and resilient means for forcing said tube outwardly upon release of the inwardly directed pressure on said tube.

14. A pencil of the class described, comprising: a. main body; a tube extended slidably in said body; means mounted on said tube and moveable in unison therewith; and yieldable means contacting and slidable on said last named means for resisting inward movement of said tube.

15. A pencil, comprising: a main body; a leadreceiving tube projected into and slidable longitudinally of said body; an engagement member mounted on said tube; and yieldable means frictionally engaging said engagement member and slidable thereon for resisting inward movement of said tube.

PERCY A. SHARROW. 

